Basque Ambulance Privatization Tender Halted by Labor Unions

• A massive tender to manage ambulance services in the Basque Country has been temporarily suspended by the OARC (Administrative Body for Contractual Resources).
• The suspension follows appeals from unions including LAB, ESK, ELA, UGT, and LSB-USO, delaying the government's goal of selecting a provider by January 1, 2027.

Union Objections

• Unions cite "serious irregularities" in the administration's documentation, including:
  • Unjustified privatization of resources.
  • Significant errors in cost calculations.
  • Deficiencies regarding staff subrogation.
  • Potential risks of illegal worker transfers.
• Labor groups argue the private management model relies on the precarization of workers and continue to advocate for the full public management of sanitary transport.

Financials and Scope

• The tender covers 386 ambulances: 76 for emergency transport and 310 for scheduled transfers.
• The government set a base budget of approximately €650 million for four years, though unions estimate the total cost could reach €1.359 billion when including VAT and potential extensions.

Context

• The regional government previously terminated contracts with Grup La Pau in late 2024 following labor disputes, wage cuts, and failures to meet minimum service requirements.
• The OARC has confirmed that the suspension of the tender process will not jeopardize the current continuity of health services, as they will remain covered by existing mechanisms during the review.